United News of Bangladesh

Speakers at a webinar on Wednesday called for the swift finalisation of the draft food labelling regulation, stressing that mandatory warning labels on packaged foods are essential to protect public health and curb diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). They also urged the government to ensure that the proposed regulation remain free from food industry interference, said a press release issued on Thursday. The recommendations were made at a webinar titled “Front-of-Pack Warning Labels on Ultra-Processed Foods: Progress, Barriers, and the Way Forward”, organised by research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), marking World Food Day 2026. World Food Day will be observed on Friday with the theme “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”. The consumption of ultra-processed packaged food is surging rapidly in Bangladesh, increasing the risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it said. Introducing a simple, clear, and mandatory warning-based Front-of-Package Labeling (FOPL) on the front of food packets can play a vital role in helping consumers make informed, healthier food choices and controlling diet-related NCDs. However, amid pressure from the food industry, the draft “Safe Food (Packaged Food Labelling) Regulations, 2026” has yet to be finalised. Urgent finalisation of this regulation is essential to safeguard public health. Speakers at the webinar highlighted that the consumption of ultra-processed foods containing excess salt, sugar, and saturated fats is escalating alarmingly among people of all ages, including children and adolescents. Research reveals that 97% of people in the country consume such foods at least once a week. Currently, nutrition tables placed on the back of food packages are complex, making it difficult for consumers to comprehend and select healthy options. To address this crisis, the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) drafted regulation related to FOPL, which is currently pending at the Ministry of Food. It was reported that domestic and foreign food industry stakeholders continue to push irrational demands, such as converting mandatory system into voluntary labeling, citing international trade agreements, extending implementation timelines, exempting small packages, and adopting misleading or less visible FOPL designs instead of clear warning labels. Professor Dr. Mohammad Shoeb, Member, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, said, “The draft regulation is currently with the Ministry of Food. We have already responded to various queries from the World Trade Organization (WTO) through the Ministry of Commerce and are also discussing with business associations on the matter. We hope the regulation will be gazette soon.” Dr. Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, Public Health Expert and former Chief Scientific Officer, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said, “NCDs account for nearly 71% of total deaths in the country, with unhealthy diets being a major contributor. Mandatory FOPL will significantly help tackle diet-related NCDs. The proposed regulations must therefore be finalized without delay and free from food industry interference.” Abu Ahmed Shamim, Associate Scientist, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, noted, “Warning-based FOPL is the most effective approach to give consumers a clear understanding of the nutritional quality and potential health risks of ultra-processed packaged foods.” Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead, Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), said, “Implementing FOPL will reduce healthcare expenditure and accelerate progress toward achieving SDG 3.4.” M. Shamsuddin Ahmed, Chief Reporter, Daily Ittefaq, said, “FOPL is an effective public health measure. The media can play a vital role in expediting the finalisation of the draft regulations.” The webinar was also attended by Samina Israt, Program Officer (Diet-Related Risk Factors), World Health Organization and Aminul Islam Sujon, Consultant, Vital Strategies. Chaired by ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, and moderated by Coordinator Mashiat Abedin, the keynote presentation was delivered by Program Officer Shabnam Mostofa. Representatives from civil society organizations, NGOs, youth groups, journalists, and professionals from various sectors participated in the webinar.